[EyeBrock]

A German Buick Regal......wow.

[andyt]

EyeBrock EyeBrock:

A German Buick Regal......wow.

It's an Opel. Nothing unusual there - US car makers have been selling re-badged European or Japanese cars for a long time. They're now moving more and more to that, where each make is a "world car", just re-badged for different markets.

[EyeBrock]

I am half educated andy. I do realise that Opel/Vauxhall and all the other incarnations of GM exist. Remember, I have travelled outside my basement to see the world.

I'm just shocked at a Boxhead Buick. The crappy caddy opel got nowhere a few years ago. I just don't think the demographic that buys Buicks will rush to buy one made in Germany.

[Mustang1]

EyeBrock EyeBrock:

I'm just shocked at a Boxhead Buick. The crappy caddy opel got nowhere a few years ago. I just don't think the demographic that buys Buicks will rush to buy one made in Germany.

GM is actually targeting young, mid-to-late 30s males who would normally gravitate towards TSXs. A Turbo is apparently on the way later this fall and so far, reviews have been quite positive.

[Lemmy]

Mustang1 Mustang1:

EyeBrock EyeBrock:

I'm just shocked at a Boxhead Buick. The crappy caddy opel got nowhere a few years ago. I just don't think the demographic that buys Buicks will rush to buy one made in Germany.

GM is actually targeting young, mid-to-late 30s males who would normally gravitate towards TSXs. A Turbo is apparently on the way later this fall and so far, reviews have been quite positive.

As a Grand National owner, I've always had an interest in Buicks. I think the demographic has really changed over the past 40 years. In the 70s, Buicks were seen as, and marketed as, "Go fast in style". Buicks were seen as a stylish musclecar, especially the Skylark GSs (455 big block rocket!). In the 80s came the turbo Regals, culminating in the 1987 GN. When I was in highschool, the Grand National was the coolest car on the road. So, when I got a job and some dough, I had to have one.


Then GM canned most of their real-wheel models and Buick was instantly transformed from a cool brand to a blue-hair brand. In the early 90s, Buick showed how horrible their marketing and design departments had lost their way. They introduced a Super Charged Buick Regal. It was marketed to the "newly highly employed young guy with a family". It was a Super Charged Grand National wannabee that you could only get in a 4 door. It was a car styled for the blue-hairs with an engine for a gear-head. No one bought it.

So, Eyebrock, don't underestimate the Buick demographic. We're still out there; Buick just hasn't turned out a car for us in 25 years. And Mustang, it'll take more than a turbocharger to turn the traditional Buick-guy back to the brand. They tried that before and it flopped. The engine needs to be paired with a cool design. If this car is a redesigned, retro-styled Skylark or Regal (similar to the way Dodge redesigned their Challenger, Ford did the Mustang and GM has already done with the Camaro) then there's a chance for a lot of interest in Buick. I'd buy a 2011 Grand National, if such a car existed.

[EyeBrock]

Thanks for the educated input! That was a very good read.

[Mustang1]

Lemmy Lemmy:

And Mustang, it'll take more than a turbocharger to turn the traditional Buick-guy back to the brand. They tried that before and it flopped. The engine needs to be paired with a cool design. If this car is a redesigned, retro-styled Skylark or Regal (similar to the way Dodge redesigned their Challenger, Ford did the Mustang and GM has already done with the Camaro) then there's a chance for a lot of interest in Buick. I'd buy a 2011 Grand National, if such a car existed.

I don't think the "traditional Buick-guy" is the target market. If they're gunning for TSX owners, then they're not looking at "retro designs" big engines or other nods to the past. Clearly they're looking at younger owners that want a European-style car, with a small engine, nicely appointed and handles well. Initial reviews suggest this (and the Chinese market has been huge for Buick) and an upcoming turbo and possible AWD pretty much give the impression that this is a new direction for Buick. Good for them.

[CommanderSock]

We can't blame unions.

Why don't Japanese and German companies have the same union issues?

In Japan and Germany, workers were well looked after, and in Japan a job for life was common until the mid 90s.

Japan's domestic car plants never needed to form unions because their workers were well looked after.

Also, having some decent engineers and effective quality control might have made a bit of a difference.

[Lemmy]

Mustang1 Mustang1:

I don't think the "traditional Buick-guy" is the target market. If they're gunning for TSX owners, then they're not looking at "retro designs" big engines or other nods to the past.

I agree. That's the exact mistake they made with the Regal GS Super Charged. I suspect they'll make that same mistake again.

Mustang1 Mustang1:

Clearly they're looking at younger owners that want a European-style car, with a small engine, nicely appointed and handles well. Initial reviews suggest this (and the Chinese market has been huge for Buick) and an upcoming turbo and possible AWD pretty much give the impression that this is a new direction for Buick. Good for them.

Good for them? I'll say "good luck" to them, but I'll save my "Good for them" for the day when I drive away from a GM dealership with a Buick. If they're gonna turn out the car you're thinking of, I'll pass.

[Mustang1]

Lemmy Lemmy:

I agree. That's the exact mistake they made with the Regal GS Super Charged. I suspect they'll make that same mistake again.

So far, doesn't sound like a mistake. Car periodicals (even Cato admitted he liked the new car) have heaped some significant praise and you can't keep banking on the 65-old demo (that's why Toyota created Scion because they were creeping there too) forever. If the Enclave is any indicator, Buick is headed in a better direction.

$1:

Good for them? I'll say "good luck" to them, but I'll save my "Good for them" for the day when I drive away from a GM dealership with a Buick. If they're gonna turn out the car you're thinking of, I'll pass.

Actually, I find the new Regal interesting, and this is the 1st time i'll be down there to not only check it out, but test drive it as wll. As I stated, the demo they're looking at are the ones that look at smallish, well-handling, nicely appointed Euro-inspired entry lux cars and so far, this car meets that criteria (at least GM has done some marketing here). Now, does that translates to NA sales? That's the big question.